“You sniff her out yet, Jojo?” the bounty hunter called.
The blitzhund was snuffling the ground a few hundred meters along the edge of the ridge. As Preacher called out, Jojo turned south and barked in reply, eyes glowing red. Then the dog turned west, wagging its tail as it barked again.
“Two trails,” Preacher frowned. “Looks like lil’ Red’s been back here more than once. Not sure why.”
Ezekiel pressed his lips together, heart aching a little in his chest. It might not be obvious to a bastard like Preacher, but the lifelike could figure one or two reasons why Lemon might drag herself up here into a BioMaas ambush.
Looking for Cricket.
And looking for me.
“Which way do we go?” he asked.
“Well, CityHive is south of here,” Preacher sighed. “But like I say, if BioMaas had her, there probably wouldn’t have been a fracas. And if they got her now, well, everything’s already over ’cept the shooting.”
Ezekiel nodded, looking at the bodies. “New Bethlehem is west.”
Preacher grunted. “Whatever the story, Brotherhood are mixed up in it somehow. Might be time to pay a visit. Ask what’s what.”
“Let’s get moving, then.”
Preacher tilted his black hat back, wiped the sweat off his brow with the sleeve of his new coat. “I gotta call this in to Megopolis, Zekey.”
Ezekiel blinked. “You what?”
“You heard. I need to notify Daedalus HQ about what’s goin’ on out here.”
“You’re not notifying anyone about anything,” Ezekiel replied. “Your bosses want Lemon dead.”
“Look, I understand you’re fond of this gal,” Preacher growled. “But I don’t think you appreciate the gravity of this here situation. BioMaas and Daedalus were movin’ quiet before. Sending out hunters like me, each of ’em hoping to snag this deviate before the other Corp got wind of it. BioMaas has broken out their big guns now. Which means they don’t care if Daedalus knows they’re on the hunt for this gal. Gettin’ hold of lil’ Red is that goddamn important to them.”
“And if BioMaas is going all in to find her, Daedalus will go all in to kill her,” Ezekiel snapped.
“Maybe that ain’t a bad thing.”
Ezekiel grabbed Preacher by the throat. The cyborg tensed, but didn’t retaliate, holding up a hand to hush Jojo as the hound began barking.
“You listen to me,” Ezekiel growled. “I made a promise I wouldn’t leave her. And we made a deal. A life for a life, remember?”
“Mmf,” the bounty hunter grunted. “I remember. But ask yourself this, Zekey. If a war breaks out over that girl between the two biggest CorpStates in the Yousay, how many lives you think we’re gonna lose then?”
“That isn’t going to happen,” Ezekiel replied.
“How you figure that?”
“Because we’re going to find her before BioMaas or Daedalus does.”
The lifelike released his grip, stalked back over to their waiting motorcycle. Jumping into the saddle, he pulled his goggles down and called over his shoulder.
“You coming or not?”
Preacher spat again, ambling over to the bike, spurs chinking on the gravel. As he walked, the bounty hunter gave a shrill whistle and Jojo came running, bounding into the newly attached sidecar. Preacher climbed onto the saddle behind Ezekiel, pulled his hat on tight.
“You know how I said I was startin’ to like you?” he asked.
“Yeah?”
Preacher shook his head and sighed.
“Think I’m startin’ to change my mind.”
Her grandpa was waiting when they got back.
Grimm slammed on the brakes, skidding to a stop on the red dirt outside Miss O’s. The truck was dented and scarred, rends torn in the hull by those BioMaas clawbeasts, dark ichor sprayed up the doors.
Diesel sat in the backseat, cradling Fix’s body. She hadn’t said a word the whole way back. Lemon’s cheeks were streaked with tears, guilt like lead in her chest. She’d told them that the mission to the Clefts was her idea, her baggage, her problem. She told them they didn’t have to come. But still…
But still.
The Major limped over to the truck, stood by her door.
“I’m sorry,” Lemon murmured.
The old man’s face was pale, his expression grim. She opened the door, preparing for the worst. She’d disobeyed his orders, endangered herself and others, and Fix was dead because of it. She expected disappointment, a rebuke, a full-throated explosion of rage.
What she got was a fierce, trembling hug.
“Oh, Lord,” he whispered. “Oh, thank you, Lord.”
“BioMaas…” Lemon held him tight. “The Brotherhood, they—”
“I know,” the old man breathed, squeezing her so hard her ribs hurt. “But it’s all right. He brought you back to me. I knew he would. Everything happens for a reason and he’s brought you back to me.”
“Fix…”
“I know.” The old man looked at Grimm. “Get that stretcher over here, soldier.”
Grimm blinked, looked to where the Major was pointing.
“Yessir,” he murmured.
The boy hopped out of the truck, fetched a field stretcher from where it lay beside Miss O’s hatchway. Lemon realized her grandpa must have known they were returning with a body. He must have seen it.
She wondered what else he’d seen.
Together, they loaded Fix onto the stretcher and strapped him in. Diesel remained in the truck, staring toward the horizon.
“Diesel, are you okay?” Lemon asked.
The girl shook her head.
“No,” was all she said.
The trio lifted Fix up, hauled him down through the hatch. The boy weighed almost nothing at all—his cheeks hollowed, his big body gaunt. Diesel climbed out of the truck slowly, the black paint around her eyes smudged down her cheeks. Walking behind them like a ghost. What must she be thinking, knowing he was gone forever? What must she be feeling, knowing he’d given his life for hers?
“I think BioMaas might have followed us,” Lemon murmured.
“They did.” Her grandpa’s face was grim as they stumbled into Section B, working their way down the stairs to the greenhouse. “That agent they set on you was sniffing your trail the minute you left the Clefts. They’re mobilizing a bigger assault force from CityHive. Lumberers. Behemoths. Slakedogs and Burners.”